USD receives $3M for tech learning center

Dr. Irwin Jacobs, center, talks with educators Monday morning in the Garden by the Sea at the University of San Diego. At his right is Larry Perondi, superintendent at Oceanside Unified School District, and with back to camera are Paula Cordeiro, Dean of USD's School of Leadership and Education Sciences, left, and USD President Mary Lyons, right. Jacobs and his wife, Joan, pledged $3 million to USD's Mobile Technology Learning Center.
— Peggy Peattie

Dr. Irwin Jacobs, center, talks with educators Monday morning in the Garden by the Sea at the University of San Diego. At his right is Larry Perondi, superintendent at Oceanside Unified School District, and with back to camera are Paula Cordeiro, Dean of USD's School of Leadership and Education Sciences, left, and USD President Mary Lyons, right. Jacobs and his wife, Joan, pledged $3 million to USD's Mobile Technology Learning Center.
— Peggy Peattie

So far, USD has been working with four school districts — Encinitas Union, Cajon Valley Union, Coronado and Solana Beach — to research how students and teachers are using technology in the classroom. In addition to its research efforts, the center also provides teacher training assistance.

“We are taking a look at what is happening to kids, what is happening to teachers vis-a-vis how they are using the technology, the effectiveness of that use and eventually we will get to measure what if any are the positive outcomes of it,” said Scott Himelstein, who is director of the Center for Education Policy and Law and has served as interim director of the Mobile Technology Learning Center.

USD also plans to build a state-of-the-art learning lab that will be an “inviting space” for teachers and administrators to look at various technology devices and applications and software as well as demonstrations of instruction, Himelstein said. The university also offers certificates in mobile learning technology to teachers and administrators who complete a 100-hour course.

Starting four years ago, the Encinitas district began providing iPads to its 5,500 students in the K-6 district and next year will be unveiling a “full digital curriculum” in its classrooms, said Superintendent Timothy Baird. He said the work his district has done with USD has helped provide better professional development to teachers.

Baird said it is important teachers don’t treat the devices as an “add on” but instead embrace an entirely different way of teaching with them.

“We came to them and said give us some feedback how to best to implement this very involved program,” Baird said. “From that came a research study that has given us very specific feedback that we are now using to help prepare for training our teachers next year. It has been very valuable for us.”

The USD study showed that some teachers are experienced educators but don’t have the technical skills while others are technically proficient but lack experience. As a result, the district will try to differentiate its teacher training to meet all the needs of its educators.

Steve Clemons, the assistant superintendent for technology for the county Office of Education, said there is a need for the work that the USD center is doing. The county office offers its own certificate courses for teachers on digital literacy and how to use technology effectively to teach students online and in “blended” classes that use online and in-person instruction.

“There is a tremendous need for the teacher training because what’s happening is the teacher is confronted with all these devices and really don’t know how to use them effectively for learning,” Clemons said.

karen.kucher@utsandiego.com

June 17, 2013 San Diego, CA. USA | Dr Irwin Jacobs, center right, talks with educators Monday morning in the Garden by thte Sea at the University of San Diego. At right is Larry Perondi, and with back to camera are Paula Cordeiro, Dean of USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences, left, and USD president Mary Lyons, right. Dr. Irwin and Mrs. Joan Jacobs have given a $3 million gift to University of San Diego for the development of USD’s Mobile Technology Learning Center. | Mandatory photo credit: Peggy Peattie/U-T San Diego/ZUMA Press; Copyright U-T